76. Should You Express Your Feelings to Your Estranged Adult Child?

Do you let them know how their behavior is making you feel? Or not? Tell them just what it’s like not to get a reply, time after time? Or pretend you’re fine with it? When all you get from them on your birthday is a 2-word text at 11pm, should you say something? Knowing how and when to express your feelings about the estrangement to your adult child is not easy. What if expressing negative emotions just pushes him further away? There’s a clue in a simple rule of thumb for rejected parents. Before you do anything, ask yourself, “Will this serve my child?” You’re human. You deserve for someone to care when your feelings are hurt, and when you’re having a hard time. But it’s not clear that your adult child is the right person to fill that role, especially when she’s estranged. Tina offers some food for thought in this episode (use the player below to listen now) if you’re thinking of giving your estranged adult child a piece of your mind.